The life and lovers of legendary Hollywood lawyer (podcast)

“He was the only person I ever knew in Hollywood who was a star without being in a movie,” says Robert Wagner in the foreword of The Man Who Seduced Hollywood: The Life and Loves of Greg Bautzer, Tinseltown’s Most Powerful Lawyer.

When Greg Bautzer wanted to break into Hollywood as a brand new attorney, he knew he had to be memorable, recounts B. James Gladstone’s newly released biography. So he borrowed $5,000 and used the money to buy “the best wardrobe in town.” It was a profitable investment indeed, as he later went on to represent such luminaries as Clark Gable, Ingrid Bergman, Judy Garland, William Randolph Hearst, Gene Kelly, Mickey Rooney, Laurence Olivier and Darryl Zanuck.

A list of Bautzer’s inamorata requires its own appendix at the end of the book, with asterisks to show which starlets he was engaged to, and which he married.

ABA Journal reporter Rachel Zahorsky speaks with Gladstone about Bautzer’s life and legal achievements, including his representation of famous recluse Howard Hughes.

In This Podcast:

B. James Gladstone

B. James Gladstone is executive vice president of business and legal affairs for Lionsgate Entertainment, distributor of such well-known titles as: Saw, The Expendables, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Hunger Games, and the Mad Men television series. He teaches financing & distributing of independent films at Southwestern Law School.